Grease dispensing means



Feb. 1l, 1941, y l C, F, ELLswQTl-l 2,231,572 v GREASE DI SPENS ING MEANS Original Filed Aug. 28, 1934 INVENTOR NEY atente Feb. 1.1, 1941 iran-STATES PATENT -oi-Fica 2,231,572v GnaAsamsraNsrNG MEANS Carl F. Ellsworth, Collingswood, N. J., assigner t R. M. Hollingshead Corporation, Camden Y N. J., a corporation of New Jersey original application August 2s, 1934, serial Nu.

741,768. 1936, Serial No. 75,205

Divided and this application April 18,

2o claims (oreal-41.3)

. which grease lubricant or other similar material may be packaged rfor sale and distribution through the usual channels of commerce and from which the lubricant, grease or other material may then be expelled under suitable pressure directly into the transmission or. differential housing of the automobiles, and such other machine parts where the lubricant is required, without first transferring the contents of the tin can into some other vesselforming a part of some dispensing apparatus.

A further object of my invention is to provide simple and inexpensive means whereby the contents of the tin can may be expelled and the 5 tin can destroyed thereby or rendered unfit for subsequent use as a container.

With the above and other 'objects in view, my

invention consists of a container including a generally cylindrical or prism-atie body or a body having a generally cylindrical prismatic or other suitable parallel side walls, a top and bottom secured to said body, an opening in said topand means for forcing said bottom inwardlyy and through vthe body in the fashion of a piston, thereby to help to expel the contents of the can through the opening at the opposite end` or top of the can.

My invention further consists of other novel features and' details of construction, all of which will appear more fully from the following de# tailed description and accompanying drawing.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawing forms thereof which are at present preferred by me,

since the same have been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumen. talities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized,v and ,that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Referring tothe drawing,'in which like reference characters indicate like parts.`

Figure l represents a sectional view` of a container and ejector means associated therewith, embodying my invention; 5 Figure 2 represents a fragmentary sectional view, on a much enlarged scale, of the ejector means and can bottom, after the latter has been somewhat displaced towards the topof the can;

Figure 3 represents a similar fragmentary sec- 10 tional view on an enlarged scale of the top of theV Atin cany or container, and the nozzle attaching means associated therewith;

Figure 4 represents a front elevational View of the ejector means; 15

Y Figure 5 represents a front elevational view of the nozzle attaching means, taken generally on line 5-5'of Figure l;

Figure 6 represents a fragmentary sectional view of a modified form of cutter forming part 20 of the ejector means;

Figure 7 represents a top plan view of the top or discharge end of the can, on a much reduced Scale;

Figure 8 lrepresents a plan view of the can- 25 engaging sideof the nozzle attaching means, on a similarly reduced scale; and

.Figure 9 represents a fragmentary section of the bottom, similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2, but further modified.

, According to one embodiment of my present invention, I provide an original container -of sheet metal or the like, designated generally by the numeral I, of any suitable cross-section which is generaly constant throughout its length, 35

but preferably of a circular cross-section. 'I'he container i includes the generally cylindrical side Wall 2, the top end member 3, seamed thereto by any suitableinterlapped seaml, or other suitable' seam of any suitable or conventional con- 40 struction, and the bottom end member 26 seamed to the opposite end of the cylindrical side wall 2 along an interlapped 'seam 'i of any suitable or conventional construction. These opposite end members 3 and 26 are thus preferably perma- 45 nently interlocked with the cylindrical side Wall 2 along the annular lapped seams I or 1, in contradistinction to being frictionally held in place through the frictlonal engagement of generally parallel annular zones.

'Ihe ejector, designated generally by the numeral 42, is of the general type disclosed in copending application Serial No. 705,562, filed January 6, 1934, which matured into Patent No, 2,125,2 58 on July 26, 1938, and in co-pending ap- 55 vision, and includes a can gripper portion andl a ram rod and actuating means therefor, in operative relation to the can gripper portion. Thus the ejector 42 includes a main body portion 43, of

more or less circular cross-section, having a stationary bead-engaging member 44, o! more or less arcuate shape and integrally formed therewith, or otherwise flxedly related thereto, and a movable bead-engaging member 45 at a point more or less diametrically opposite to the bead-engaging member 44. The movable bead-engaging member 45 may be pivoted at 46, to any suitable webbing or other structural member or portion 41 of the body 43 (being either integral ably held in an engaging position by any suitable spring 48. The members 44 and 45 are.

adapted to engage the slight annular bead-like seam 1 surrounding the bottom of the can, thereby to hold the can fast and in predetermined relation to the ram rod 49, and the follower plate or press platen 21, which is suitably secured to the ram rod 49, as for instance by screw-threaded connection or by means of a rivet or by other suitable fastening means. In the embodiments of my invention herein shown, the ram rod 49 is provided with a series of spaced annular grooves 58 generally throughout its length, with the exception of the innermost terminal portion thereof, to which the plate 21 is secured.

The annular grooves 50 include the more or less plane annular surfaces 5|, generally at a right angle to the axis ofthe rod 49 and the inclined and more or less conical surfaces 52, thereby forming a rack which may be advanced positively in one direction (in the direction of the arrow I3) by means of the spring-tensioned pawl |33, and the rod 49 may be rotated without affecting the function andoperation of the pawl |33. The rod 49 is slidably mounted within Ya suitable bore 54, of the guide portion 55 of the body 43, which is preferably integrally or otherwise iixedly related to the body portion 43. A stationary handle 56 extends generally parallel to the ram rod l49 (shown broken away in the drawing), and is either formed integrally with the body portion 43 or is otherwise firmly or xedly secured thereto or to the web portion 41. The handle 56, extending generally parallel to the ram rod 49 in closely spaced relation thereto, may be slightly dished in cross-section, so that the ram rod 49 may lie generally within the dished groove of the handle, thereby to afford the ram rod more protection against injury in handling. The movable handle 58 is preferably pivoted to the member 43,'as for instance by means of the pivot 59, extending through said handle 58 and through the pivotal lug or hinge member or portion 68, which is also integrally or otherwise fixedly or stationarily related to the body portion or member 43. In suitable spaced relation to the pivot point 59, the pawl |33 is pivotally secured to the handle 58 by means of the pivot pin |34. The pawl |33 is yieldably urged towards theram rod by any suitable spring, such as the helical compression spring |35 (see Figure l) while the set screw |36 adjusts the limiting position of the pawl |33 in relation to the handle 58. Thus, when the handle 58 is in the completely retracted position (deflected in the direction of the arrow |31) the pawl |33 will be clear of the rod 49, so that the rod may be pulled back or lretracted. The spring |38 serves to open or to retract the handle 58. The spring-pressed plunger |39, urged by the spring |48, serves yieldably to retain the rod 49 in any position.

In the normal use of the device o! my present invention, the can is placed in operative position between the bead-engaging members 44 and 45, as indicated in Figure 1. Thereupon the two handles 56 and 58 are grasped ln one hand and by a one-handed operation, to wit, the opening and closing of the hand, the handle 58 is oscillated to and fro about the pivot 59, thereby causing the pawl |33 to ride idly over each notch of the rod 49, while the handle 58 is moved in the direction of the arrow |31, and causing the pawl 33 firmly to engage in the next notch of the rod 48 when the handle is moved in the opposite direction, and to advance the rod 49 and the plate 21 in the direction of the arrow I3 to the extent of one or more notches.

In Figures 1 and 2, I have illustrated a form of my invention, wherein the can bottom 26 may be fastened directly to the cylindrical body 2 of the container, having within it a packing gasket I4 formed of any suitable material such as cardboard, pasteboard, rubber or rubber composition. The ram rod 49 is provided with a follower plate 21, and an annular sheet metal cutter 28, having a series of generally annularly arranged, inwardly bevelled cutting edges 29, which meet at points 30 which are adapted first to penetrate the bottom of the can, thereby to lessen the force required to cut the bottom of the can out in a generally annular formation. These surfaces 29 may either be curved, or may be alternately inclined surfaces, as indicated in Figure 6. A packing gasket of suitably resilient or expansive material, 3|, may be provided between the generally annular cutter 28 and the plate 21, to augment the packing action of the disc I4.

In order to permit the cutter 28 to more nearly approach the cylindrical body 2 of the container, the bead, designated generally by the numeral 1 may be off-set slightly in an outward direction, as indicated particularly in Figure 9, so that the outer diameter of the cutter 28 may be such as more or less snugly to fit within the inner diameter of the cylindrical body of the can, thereby to serve as a piston as well, in the ejection of the contents of the can.

In Figures 1, 3, 5, 7 and 8, I have illustrated another feature in connection with the top of the container, which I may apply to a container having the form of bottom shown in Figures 1. 2 and 9.`

In this phase of my present invention, the top 3 of the can is without the conventional screwi threaded neck which detachably carries a screwcap, and instead is provided merely with a central hole 6|, which may be produced by providing a circular scoring in the top 3 of the can which may be punched out by any suitable implement to form the opening 6|, and may be covered (while the container is in storage-or in transit, orotherwise unusued) by Ia tin disc soldered in spots to the outside of the top and having a suitable pull-tab by means of which it may be torn off from the top in the conventional manner'of sealing discs, or in the general manner of the soldered sealing member 38 shown in Figuresv 1 and 5 of co-pending application Serial No. 705,562 filed January 6, 1934, but merely in a at form. The top bead 4 in this phase of my invention is provided with two, three, or more indentations 32, which are pressed in by any suitable forming die. A generally disc-like closure member or attaching member 33 is provided, having a central opening into which or to which a spout 35 is secured, and having an outer ilange 31 adapted to surround the bead l, and having two, three or more inwardly projecting. clawlike hooks 38 which are adapted to pass through the notches 32 in the upper bead 4 of the can, and which may then be caused to engage the bead by a slight turning. or a slight rotation of the member 33, thereby causing an interlocking between the member 33 and spout 35 and the can, the end portion 62 of the spout 35 being projectable through the container wail 3. The circular scoring in the container wall 3 at the discharge end of the container (indicated particularly in Figure 7 by the small central dotted circle) facilitates the projection of the spout 35 through the end wall 3 at the discharge end of the container I, by forming a weakened circulax-.line defining a potential discharge opening which may be formed by any suitable means, as hereinabove mentioned.. A suitable resilient or expansive annular packing gasket 39 may be provided within the annular flange 31, as indicated particularly in Figures 3 and 8, adapted to contact the bead 4, thereby to make a rmer seal against the passage of fluid through the hole 8| and through the spout 35.

I am aware that my invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes therel of, and I therefore desire the present embodi ments to be considered in all respects as illus-' trativeand not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is hereby claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is.

l. Grease dispensing apparatus comprising an original grease container having a generally cylindrical body, a top permanently secured to said body at one end, said top being adapted to be opened to provide a discharge outlet, a bottom at the other end of said body, a lapped seam between said body and said bottom forming an outwardly projecting peripheral bead surrounding said last mentioned end of the body, and manually operable means adapted for quick attachable and detachable engagement with said bead, said means having a cutter edge adapted to sever the bottom from the body. and means for advancing the severed bottom through the container toward the opposite end thereof to expel the grease therefrom.

2. In a lubricant dispenser in combination, an original lubricant package of substantially cylindrical side Wall shape having a closed end adapted to be substantially wholly cut away, and means for cutting away said closed end and for forcing lubricant through an opening at the opposite end of the package comprising an annular knife engageable with said closed end adjacent the side walls to cutout said end, means for rigid circular press-platen of a diameter generally equal to the outside diameter of said annular cutter disposed behind said cutter and spaced axially therefrom, and aresilient packing gasket disposed between said cutter and said press platen and adapted to be compressed therebetween when the cutter is pushed axially throuh the container by said. press platen,.therebyto expand -radially into 4intimate contact with the inner cylindrical wall-of said container whenl said cutter is being axially advanced therethrough.

4. In lubricant dispensing apparatus, the conibination with an original lubricant container having a generally cylindrical body, imperforate terminal discs permanently axed -to opposite ends thereof and forming therewith a completely sealed container and a non-metallic piston-like packing disc disposed within said container near one of said terminal discs and having its pe riphery in generally sealing contact with the inner wall of said cylindrical body, of means for severi-ng the terminal disc nearest said packing disc from said cylindrical body, and means for jointly advancing the severed disc and said packof a generally cylindrical original lubricant container having an imperforate terminal portion adapted to be substantially wholly cut away, and means for cut-ting away said terminal portion and for forcing lubricant through a. discharge outlet at the opposite end Voi said container cornprising an' annular cutter engageable with said imperforate terminal portion near the periph',- ery thereof for cutting out saidterminal portion, means for advancing said cutter toward said containerto perform said cutting operation, and means for thereafter axially advancing said cutout portion through the body of said container to force lubricant therefrom through said discharge outlet.

'7. In lubricanit'dlspensing apparatus having an advanceable annular cutter for cutting out the end portion oi' an original'lubricant container, means for forcing the contained' lubricant through a discharge outlet inthe opposite end portion of" said container, comprising cutteradvancing means operable to force said cutter through one end of said original lubricant con-v tainer, thereby severinga portion of said container end, and thereafter operable to jointly advance said severed end portion and axially through said container. y i

8. In lubricant dispensing apparatus, the com' said cutter` bination with an original lubricant container having a generally cylindrical bodyand terminal discs permanently affixed to opposite ends thereof and forming therewith a completely sealed container, of annular cutting means for peripherally severing one of said terminal discs from said containerupon relative axial movement between said container 'and said annular cutting means, and means for axially advancing the severed disc through the container, thereby to force terrninal disc. Y

9. In lubricant dispensing apparatus, an original container for lubricant `constituting avendible grease package unitcomprising a generally cylindrical body having virr'1p s :r forate terminal me-y tallic discs aihxed to .opposite endsthereof and forming therewith a completely sealed container, one of said vterminal discs being permanently affixed tosaid cylindrical body along an annular lapped seam projecting longitudinally' of said body, said annular seam having an inside diam'- eter substantiallyequal to the' inside diameter of said cylindrical. body, whereby saiddisc maybe peripherally severedv from' 'the cylindrical' body at said lapped seam by an annular cutter having a cutting edge diameter substantially 'equal .'to

the inside diameter oi said cylindrical body, an d the other of .said terminal' discs being adapted to be opened readily to provide a lubricant discharge outlet therethrough, Aand means for ad'- vancing said rst-mentioned rterminal disc through the body 4of the container therebyto expel the greaseycontents thereoithrough said discharge outlet. l0. Inlubricant dispensingv apparatus, an original container for lubricant. constitutingY a vendible grease package unit comprising agenerally cylindrical body having imperfor'te terminal metallic discs ai'xed to opposite e'ndsjthereof and forming therewith a completely sealed container, one of said terminal discs beingpermanently. affixed to said cylindrical body along an .annular lapped seam oisetradially outwardly relative vto said cylindrical body with they radially innermost surf-ace of said seam in substantial alignment with the inside surfaceof said cylindrical body, whereby said disc -may be peripherally severed from the cylindrical body at saidlapped seam by an annular cutter having an'outside operating diameter substantially equal T to the inside diameter of-said cylindrical body, and the other of said terminal discs being adapted to be opened readily to provide a lubricant discharge outlet therethrough,

11. In lubricant dispensing apparatus, an original container for lubricant constituting a vendible grease package unit comprising a cylindrical metallic body having generally fiat and imperforate terminal metallic discs permanently afiixed thereto and forming therewith a completely sealed container, one of said terminal discs being adapted to have a discharge outlet formed therein by inwardly directed external axial pressure, and the other terminal disc being adapted to be peripherally severed from said cylindricalbody by inwardly directed external axial pressure, and a non-metallic piston-like disc disposed within said sealed container in proximity to said severable terminal disc.

12. Inlubricantdispen'sing apparatus, an original container for lubricant constituting a vendible grease vpackage unit comprising a cylindrical metallic body having generally flat terminal me,- tallic discs permanently aixed theretoand forming therewith a completely sealed container, one of said discs being adapted to be opened to provide a discharge outlet for said container, and the other of said metallic vdiscs being imperforate and adapted to be peripherally severed from said cylindrical 'body by inwardly directed external axial pressure, and a non-metallic piston-like disc disposed within said sealed container in proximity to saidimperf-orate metallic disc.

13. In lubricant dispensing apparatus, an orig- .2,331,573 4lubricant through an outlet forxncdin the other inal container for `lubricant and constituting a. vendiblefg-rease packageunit comprising va generally cylindcalmetallic body .having generally flat and imperiorat'e vterminal metallic "discs permanently aiiixed thereto, and .forming therewith 'a completely sealed container, said terminal discs being adapted to have openings Aformed therein byinwardlydirected external axial pressure, and afflat non-metallic piston-like 'member of .comparatively .small dimensionin an axial direction disposed within sa'id vcontainer near one of said terminaldiscs. f 1'4l 'In' lubricant dispensing apparatus, an original container for lubricant and constituting avendible grease package `unit 'comprising a generally cylindrical metallic body having generally nat and imperforate'jter'minal metallic discs permanently affixed thereto, and forming therewith a completely sealed container, said terminal discs .being adapted to have openings formed therein by inwardly directed external axial pressure, anda nat piston-like member disposed within 'saidcontainernear one of said terminal discs.

l5. Lubricant dispensing ,apparatus comprising a .device having a space-to receive the end of. a can,fmeans for holding a can with its end in said space, an advanceable annular cutter having a substantially continuous cutting edge for cutting out said end of the can'when'axially advanced therethrough, and means for eiecting relative movement-oi. saidl can and the cut-out endto discharge the; contents of the can through a discharge openingprovided at the opposite end of saidcan. i 16. Dispensing apparatus having a substantially ring-shaped knife for cutting out one end of a container.- and means for effecting relative movement between said container and the cutout.` end to discharge the contents of the container through a discharge outlet provided at the opposite end of said container. v

17. Apparatus fordispensing lubricant from a generally cylindrical original lubricant container lhaving Aan imperforate terminal portion adapted to be cut away, said apparatus including an advanceable annular cutter for cutting away said terminal portion, and means for advancing said cut-out portion through the body of said container to force lubricant therefrom through a discharge outlet provided at the opposite end of said container.

18. In lubricant dispensing apparatus having an advanceable annular cutter for cutting out the end portion of an original lubricant container, means for forcing the contained lubricant through a discharge outlet at the opposite end of said container, comprising cutter-advancing means operable to force said annular cutter through oneend of said original lubricant container to severa portionof said container end, and means forthereafter advancing said severed end portion through said container.

19. In lubricant dispensing apparatus of the class described,` flow-conducting means operatively engageable with the discharge' end of an original lubricant container and including a portion projectable 'through Athe container wall at said discharge end, a generally rannular sealing portion surroundingsaid projectable portion and operatively engageable with said container, and means for applying sealing pressure between said annular sealing portion and said container, to prevent leakage of lubricant thereby, said latter means. being automatically operable upon the engagement of said' flow-conducting means with said container discharge end.

20. Lubricant dispensing apparatus having flow-conducting means operatively engageable with the discharge end of a lubricant container,

lsaid ow conducting means including a portion projectable through the container wall at said discharge end, an annular cutter forcutting out the opposite end of said lubricant container, and means for applying pressure to the cut-out end of said container to advance it through the container towards the discharge end thereof, thereby to discharge the container contents through said 5 now-conducting means.

CARL F. ELLSWORTH. 

